Harder Than Life

Vulnerability means so much more when you’re really pushing yourself, according to Nick Connor, founder of the Academy of Maximized Potential (AMP). As he puts it, we need to live compassionate lives… but we also need compression to keep pushing ourselves forward; You need to be vulnerable before you allow yourself to really grow. In this podcast, Nick joins Kelly to talk about how to maximize you...

When Rob Mallan was incarcerated for 18 months, he came to a strange realization; behind bars, he felt more free than he did in the outside world. After some soul searching, Rob discovered that he had created his own prison in attempt to cope with the bad things in his life. But, he reasoned, if my mindset can get me in here, it can also get me out. Welcome back! This week, Kelly is joined by the...

Katie Wood ran the 2018 Boston Marathon in a monsoon. Rather than bail out, she decided to run straight through in the most difficult of circumstances. It's kind of her thing. In college, she muscled her way off the bench of her Women's Basketball team and became her team captain... and she earned a scholarship. When she met her future husband for the first time, she told him that she knew they wo...

Jen Gottlieb lives her life in the pocket. "In the pocket" is how this author and influencer defines being her best, happiest self, and in this episode, we are going to talk about how she does it. Welcome back! With her new book on the horizon, Jen joins Kelly to talk about being seen (also the name of her book, check out the description below to get your copy!) and the joy that can only be found...

On the cusp of Impact Effect '23, we are joined by the maestro behind the event, Jim Morris, for a special discussion all about the Art of Gathering. If you haven't bought a ticket yet, there is still time before tomorrow! Register here: https://impacteffect23.com/buy-ticket/Jim started throwing events professionally three years ago and he hasn't looked back. As a businessman, father, speaker and...

Tim Storey wants to be a billboard for a better life. After a lifetime of achievement as an author, speaker and coach, and working with celebrities such as Quincy Jones, it's safe to say he makes for a compelling ad. So, this week, Tim joins us to share stories from his long career (Did you know Quincy Jones kicked Tim out of his house?!), talk about growing up as the youngest child in a large fam...

This week, Dr. Tyler Panzner is our guest and Kelly Siegel is his guinea pig. The question this experiment seeks to answer is: how do we optimize Kelly Siegel?  Welcome back! On Harder Than Life, we talk a lot about being a better version of ourselves. According to Tyler, a big part of optimizing ourselves is optimizing our bodies. What we take in and why matters. Tyler has studied pharmacology, c...

Trigger Warning: This episode contains detailed accounts of abuse, trauma, and more difficult subject matter. Discretion is advised. Amberly Lago has had a lot of practice being resilient. A survivor of abuse, accidents, addiction, and more, Amberly has learned to persevere with grace and gratitude through the worst of times. And today, this resilient podcaster, TEDx Speaker, podcaster, and coach...

Personal growth is a lot like boxing. The only way to learn is by getting punched in the face. Fortunately, today’s guest is not afraid to take a hit. Welcome back! In this episode, Kelly is joined by David Scott, CEO of Scott Growth Strategies. Dave is a father, a businessman, and someone who believes in living clean and lean. He stays sharp with boxing and today he steps into the ring with Kelly...

Trigger Warning: This episode contains detailed accounts of suicidal ideation & attempted suicide. Discretion is advised. Hardship found Stephen Scoggins when he was only nine. In the midst of a chaotic home life, young Stephen was forced to step up for the sake of his family. If you are here, you probably know about Stephen Scoggins’ incredible story - from starting his first business in the tras...

How strong is Chris Lambert’s faith? In college, he converted his drug dealer to Christianity, and then kicked the habit. This week, we get to know Chris, the CEO of Life Remodeled and author of Next Level Nonprofit. Chris' wild story has taken him from Africa to Australia, from university to seminary school, and now, he helps non-profits win in Detroit. Chris is a husband, father, and a man who h...

Trigger Warning: This episode contains detailed accounts of suicidal ideation & attempted suicide. Discretion is advised. Dan Martell is an angel investor, the man behind three successful software companies, and a philanthropist who dedicates his time to helping at-risk youth, a husband, and a father of two. Despite how easy he makes it look, Dan’s life has been anything but. From struggling with...

Authenticity took Brandon Adams from small-town beginnings in Iowa to television success in Hollywood. This man in black is a two-time Emmy winner, a TV Host, best-selling author, and the founder of Accelerant Media Group. Together with his wife and fellow maverick Samantha, he created Rise and Record, an event in which they help others tell their stories through video. Learn more and sign up for...

When Brandon Burns says he works out every day, he does not mean "most days" or "sometimes." He just gets up and DOES THE WORK every single day. That's the discipline it takes to make it as a keynote speaker, coach, and influencer at 26. Today, he joins Kelly to talk about the mentality behind his success. Highlights include: Brandon is the right hand man of Eric Thomas. Hear how Brandon hustled f...

This may be the best episode of Harder Than Life yet. This week, we explore the fascinating life of Jillian Riddell, an ER nurse and podcaster with a crazy story. At age 17, she started college while 9 months pregnant. As a child, her dad hid her from her family. Through all that, Jillian has kept her promise to "be the light" to those around her. We are so excited to share this conversation with...

Matt Williams once heard his wife tell him: “I can’t tell if you’re playing or working.” THAT is the kind of infectious energy that podcaster and badass Matt Williams is bringing to this episode of Harder Than Life. Matt, who has used his positive mindset to successfully launch the Fro Pro Snacks line, is 13 years sober. He and Kelly dive into how Matt overcame addiction and found success, and tal...

Harder Than Life is going international! This week, we are joined by Sian Hill, a Neuro-Linguistic Programming Master Coach, author, and podcaster from the UK. Sian has dedicated her life to helping women become their best selves and, in today's episode, joins us to talk about the power of our self-perception. We are excited to share some of Sian's wisdom with you, including: The Law of Attraction...

If you ask Greg Scheinman, there is no EASY way to do anything well. Living a better, healthier life is SIMPLE, but 'simple' ain't easy. Through his books, podcasting, and coaching, Greg is trying to teach people how to maximize middle age. Instead of dreading mid-life, Greg is changing the narrative to help people live their best life as they grow older. Today, Greg jams with Kelly about how he s...

Adam was once described as a “lotsaholic.” Everything in his life - from his best habits to his worst decisions - is cranked up to 11. For the longest time, Adam thought of his struggles as a fight against himself. It wasn’t until he learned to surrender that be became Harder Than Life. This week features a team-up worthy of its own crossover comic. Adam, a best-selling author, Inspirational Keyno...

If you ask McKenna Reitz what it is like to live with alopecia, she will tell you she never has a bad hair day. This week, Kelly welcomes the bold and beautiful McKenna Reitz to the Harder Than Life podcast! Despite losing every hair on her body in 2015, McKenna’s attitude and confidence are better than ever. What she went through, and how she grew through it all, is a story that will inspire you....

David Meltzer has won and lost (and won again) more money than most of us will see. If you listen to this podcast, you almost certainly know him as the Kevin Bacon of the personal development space. As an author, businessman, podcaster, and philanthropist, David is never more than six degrees away from your favorite motivator. Today, he joins Kelly for a ferocious conversation about staying intere...

99% of what makes a good business partner happens outside the office. If their goals, attitude, and lifestyle are aligned with your own, chances are their work will mesh with yours too. Kelly met Aaron Opalewski by chance on a flight to Nashville, kicking off a friendship and business partnership, and the two have been winning together ever since. Being the humble son of a pastor turned entreprene...

If you ask him, Julian Hayes will tell you that being a pastor was always his calling. Today, he’s known as “Pastor Ju,” a man of God whose passion for his community is infectious. However, the road Julian had to walk was not an easy one. The improbable story of how it all happened, and how Julian learned to live into his purpose, is at the heart of this week’s episode. Tune in to hear Pastor Ju s...

Renee Vardouniotis & Angie Leitnaker want to change the way we think about education. After several years of working within the traditional school system, they came together to develop the CAPE (Compassionate, Aware, Purpose-driven, and Effective) Movement. CAPE teaches children both practical skills and emotional intelligence, which Angie and Renee both found to be lacking in traditional curricul...

Chef Chris has lived an interesting life or three. Seriously, it would be easier to list the things he hasn’t done. Chris grew up in a Buddhist monastery. He was a competitive cheerleader. He’s cooked fine meals for Russian oligarchs. He found and then kicked drugs and is now an Executive Chef at KYU NYC. Dude is only 35 and his story is already incredible. Now sober, happy, and about to become a...